This year Sueños Music Festival took place after Chicago saw one of its largest immigration enforcement operations in recent history.
But at Sueños on Sunday, Chicagoans showed up showcasing their Latino identity, waving flags, sporting cowboy boots and hats and singing along to songs in Spanish. Several said the weekend music event — one of the largest Latino music festivals in the country — offered them an opportunity to “show up and show out” and celebrate in hopes of something better.
Last fall, Chicago and its surrounding suburbs were the target of immigration officials in a campaign the feds named “Operation Midway Blitz.”
Latino residents endured weeks of targeted operations and detentions based on their identity, skin color, accent or occupation.
Fast forward five months, and the two-day music festival Sueños hosted attendees for its fifth year to see headliners such as J Balvin and Kali Uchis.
In Chicago, the Latino population is predominantly Mexican. That was in full display on Sunday, where the headliner was popular regional Mexican banda Fuerza Regida.
Here’s what some festivalgoers told us about returning to Sueños this year.
“It’s definitely a big step, like being able to come outside and connect with everybody and seeing everybody finally together and celebrating for something better. It definitely brings me a lot of joy.” —Raquel Castro, 20.
“This event is a really beautiful moment, when all Latinos come together as one to celebrate our differences and everything. So, I think it’s pretty, it’s pretty amazing.” — Jesus Ramos, 21.
“I come from immigrant parents, so like, just being here celebrating is definitely, you know, something beautiful, you know. And I feel safe here.” — Chris Luna, 22.
“I love that Sueños bring unity vibes, party vibes, everything.” — Ale, 25.
“I think it just feels like it shows who we are, and it shows like how positive we are, and coming together as a community.” — Michelle, 26.
“I think it shows the resilience of the Latino community, and that we’re able to always stay united and show up and show out.” — Eric, 29.
“It’s definitely very difficult to see the community in something so hard, but it makes me very proud to see, like, all the Latinos out there today, like celebrating together. It’s very strong.” — Karina Melendez, 20.
“It was tragic. We were affected too. There were deportations in our household. And well, for now we’re gonna enjoy the moment out here in Sueños and we’re just killing it. We bought our ticket a year ago so we have been planning this for over a year. ” — Alejandro Peinado, 26.
“I think immigrants are important. Immigrants are needed. We are a strong factor in the local economy and we are seeing and feeling the effects of the immigration agents in our local economy. But I’m happy to be here.” — Alex Ramirez, 34.